wsu_wsuboh_williamknottwilliamknottwsubohwsuyesWilliam Knott, April 2, 1974Knott, William, 1896-Oral history--United StatesFamily--History--Tennessee--MemphisAfrican Americans--Montana--Great FallsGreat Falls (Mont.)--History--20th centuryGreat Falls (Mont.)--Social conditions--20th centuryAfrican Americans--Social conditions--20th centuryCommunity life--Montana--Great FallsCowgirls--Montana--Great FallsCowboys--Montana--Great FallsJanitors--Montana--Great FallsCleaning personnel--Montana--Great FallsBarbers--Montana--Great FallsBarbershops--Montana--Great FallsBarbering--Montana--Great FallsAfrican American barbers--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Americans--ReligionAfrican American churches--Montana--Great FallsChurches--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church. Montana ConferenceClubs--Montana--Great FallsSocieties--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Americans--Societies, etc.African American neighborhoods--Montana--Great FallsEthnic neighborhoods--Montana--Great FallsNeighborhood--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Americans--RecreationRecreation--Montana--Great FallsAfrican American business enterprises--Montana--Great FallsBusiness enterprises--Montana--Great FallsAfrican American businesspeople--Montana--Great FallsBusinesspeople--Montana--Great FallsDiscrimination against African AmericansDiscrimination in education--Montana--Great FallsEducation--Montana--Great FallsPublic schools--Montana--Great FallsSchools--Montana--Great FallsTeaching--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Americans--Education--Montana--Great FallsPrejudices--Montana--Great FallsCommunication in the family--MontanaChicago defenderAfrican American newspapersNewspapersAfrican Americans--Relations with IndiansAfrican Americans--Relations with Hispanic AmericansRace relationsGreat Falls (Mont.)--Race relationsCivil rights--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Americans--Civil rights--Montana--Great FallsAfrican American soldiers--MontanaAfrican American soldiersSoldiers--MontanaSoldiers--United StatesUnited States--Armed Forces--African AmericansUnited States. Army--African American troopsCommunication in the family--TennesseeSports--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Americans--SportsAfrican American athletes--Montana--Great FallsAthletes--Montana--Great FallsEntertainment events--Montana--Great FallsTailors--Montana--Great FallsTailoring--Montana--Great FallsClothing and dress--Montana--Great FallsAfrican Americans--ClothingMen's clothing--Montana--Great FallsStores, Retail--Montana--Great FallsLicense system--MontanaLiquor laws--MontanaAlcohol--Law and legislation--MontanaMontana. Liquor Control BoardMontana. Liquor Control Board--Officials and employeesEmployees--MontanaMontana--Officials and employeesJob vacancies--Montana--Great FallsAfrican American politicians--Montana--Great FallsPoliticians--Montana--Great FallsAfrican American political activists--Montana--Great FallsPolitical activists--Montana--Great FallsGreat Falls (Mont.)--Officials and employeesPublic employeesGovernment employeesAfrican Americans--Employment--Montana--Great FallsDemocratic Party (Mont.)Political parties--MontanaPolitical participation--MontanaAfrican Americans--Politics and governmentMountains--MontanaMountains--Montana--Great FallsClimateGreat Falls (Mont.)--ClimateMontana--ClimateWeatherKnott, William, 1896-Jacobs, AlvaOral history interview with William Knott of Great Falls, Montana.TAPE 1, SIDE A: 0 - 5 His parents came by train from Memphis in 1892. Family background. Early Great Falls--sporting girls and cow punchers. Father first worked as a janitor. 5 - 7 Not many Negroes in Great Falls. Black barbershops wouldn't cut blacks' hair. Black church. The African Methodist Episcopal Church. 7 - 11 Black social clubs. There were not enough colored men in town to organize anything. No Negro section of town. Other black businesses. 11 - 14 Schooling. There was no segregation in the school but prejudice was obvious once he got out of school. Alva Jacobs, a well-known black from the area. 14 - 18 He is in close contact with other relatives. Large black families in the area. Sports activities. Entertainment. Shows that came through town. 18 - 22 Describes his work as a tailor--he had two shops. Worked 14 years for the state liquor board. Other jobs available for blacks. 22 - 27 Most blacks were Democrats. Black politicians and government workers. Blacks left the city for work elsewhere. 27 - 29 Prejudice. TAPE 1, SIDE B: 0 - 3 Many blacks were railroad men and moved with the railroad. Blacks in surrounding towns. He always kept in touch with other blacks. 3 - 4 He didn't care for the Chicago Defender. 4 - 7 Contacts with other ethnic groups--they always got along with the Mexicans and the Indians. Black soldiers. 7 - 10 His experiences and feelings about living in Great Falls. He loves the mountains and the climate. Hunting and fishing.The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata.Washington State University. Library. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special CollectionsSoundhttp://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/5985/id/57audio/x-pn-realaudioBlack Oral History Interviews, 1972-1974, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State UniversityForms part of online collection: Black Oral History Interviews Collection.1974-04-02Great Falls (Mont.)Cascade County (Mont.)http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/For permission to publish, please contact Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (509) 335 - 6691.